Category: Human Rights

Sigi Mwanzia contributed to this post. This article was originally published at page 20 of the Star Newspaper of December 17, 2018 Kenya plans to roll out a national census at midnight August 24, 2019, at a cost of Sh18.5 billion. The census seeks to collect various data, including marital status, ethnicity, disability, number of … More Census 2019: Do you know your rights?

Hibo Hussein contributed to this post. This article was originally published at page 11 of Business Daily Africa Newspaper of December 11, 2018 This week, banks have approached the High Court to declare unconstitutional some clauses in the Finance Act 2018 that requires them to record details of customers’ next of kin and to keep … More Banks should protect the data of customers and their next of kin

This article was originally published at page 21 of the Star Newspaper of October 1, 2018 The past month has been eventful for the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), with the election of John Omo as the secretary general of the African Telecommunications Union. He will represent the CA and the government at the union. … More Seven steps to reform the CA

This article was originally published at page 21 of the Star Newspaper of September 20, 2018 We have recently witnessed data breaches that have led to the publication of private facts about many Kenyans. These private facts have been obtained from telephone conversation records , intrusion into individual digital photo libraries, and breach of public … More Data Breaches Imperil Privacy

Drew Mitnick contributed to this post. The South African government has closed a period of consultation on a draft cybersecurity and cybercrime bill that, as written, undermines the rights to privacy, lacks transparency, and chills cybersecurity research and online expression. Access Now provided written recommendations to the South African Department of Justice and Constitutional Development … More South Africa draft cybersecurity and cybercrime bill misses the mark

This week the U.S. government issued a General License to provide internet users in Sudan with easier access to the web and a wide range of software, hardware, and services “incident to personal communications.” U.S. sanctions against Sudan have been in place since 1997, and previously made it illegal for U.S. companies or individuals to … More U.S. eases sanctions on tech exports to Sudan

Access Now Policy Team and Drew Mitnick contributed to this post. The High Court of Kenya has temporarily suspended the implementation of eight clauses of the Security Laws (Amendment) Act of 2014, which restricts the exercise of human rights in Kenya. In a challenge brought by Coalition for Reforms and Democracy and the Kenya National … More Legal battle in Kenya set to determine country’s surveillance future

The parliament in Kenya approved a dangerous new national security law yesterday. The vote was first interrupted by protests outside the venue, and the debate became so contentious that parliament had to be stalled for 30 minutes after elected representatives tore up drafts of the bill and engaged in a physical fight. Rights groups including … More Ignoring Protests, Kenya Parliament Approves Dangerous National Security Law

Drew Mitnick contributed to this post. Legislators in Kenya will shortly make a decision with significant ramifications for the privacy and free expression rights of Kenyans. On International Human Rights Day (December 10), the Kenyan Parliament cynically introduced the Security Laws (Amendment) Bill (2014), which contains several sweeping and deeply worrying changes to the country’s … More Kenya, the next surveillance state?

Peter Micek contributed to this post. The White House hosted a summit this week with nearly 50 African heads of state to strengthen trade and investment ties. The Summit highlighted a multibillion dollar new investment program, and put President Obama on stage to answer questions from young entrepreneurs. From its inception, however, the Summit has … More Obama ignores user rights with African investment plan